MAGNET ORIGINALS LAUNCHES CREATIVE AND OPERATING STUDIO TO GROW CREATOR-OWNED BUSINESSES

NEW YORK, November 1, 2026 – Magnet Originals today announced its launch as a creative and operating studio that builds and grows businesses around established creators in music, sports and thought leadership.

Built on the conviction that creators shouldn’t have to sell their companies or intellectual property to get the support they need to grow, Magnet Originals brings education, production, audience development and commercialization together under one operating partnership, expanding creators’ work into shows, communities, products, memberships and live experiences.

The company was founded by Megan Cunningham, who spent two decades building Magnet Media into a storytelling studio for leading brands including Amazon, Google, BlackRock and Chase, and now brings that network and expertise to creator-led businesses, alongside a team of experienced operators including: Subrata De (VICE, NBC), Dustin Goot (TikTok, Fullscreen), Brannan Goetschius (Spotify, SiriusXM) and Alexandra Zaslow (NBC Universal, Yahoo News).

The launch slate brings together creator-owned properties and original productions. Inaugural partners include TOGETHXR, iHeartMedia and Tubi.

Megan Cunningham, Founder, Magnet Originals, said: “The last digital media gold rush showed the risks of growing on a venture clock. Companies that were everywhere in 2016 don’t exist today. Now creators are getting the same treatment. We’re building a new model that gives creators the ability to turn their ambition into lasting, profitable businesses they can still call their own.”

Kati Fernandez, Chief Content Officer, TOGETHXR, said: “Magnet brought thoughtful collaboration to the development and casting process for the Everyone Watches Women’s Sports™ podcast. Megan and her team share TOGETHXR’s commitment to putting talent first, helping us bring together influential athletes, creators and personalities for authentic conversations.”

Allowing Creators to Grow While Keeping Ownership

Acquisitions in the creator economy are accelerating, even as many creators are just beginning to grow their businesses. Quartermast Advisors counted 70 acquisitions in the creator economy in the first half of 2026, up 23 percent from a year earlier, and projects more than 100 by the end of the year.

Magnet Originals operates on the conviction that established creators can grow and expand their business while keeping their company, and IP. For creator-owned properties, Magnet Originals works as an operating partner across multiple revenue streams, taking no equity in the creator’s company and sharing in the revenue it helps generate. For original productions, Magnet Originals develops and owns franchises with its partners, with talent participating in the businesses built around each show.

Launch Creators and Programming

Creator-owned properties include:

• Shawn Stockman | On That Note: The four-time Grammy winner and Boyz II Men member interviews artists, actors and comedians about the songs and moments that shaped their lives.
• Byron Scott and Jay Wagers | Byron Scott’s Fast Break: Produced by Brian Amlani and CTG Media, the show brings together the three-time NBA champion and Wagers, known as Kid Jay, for conversations with basketball legends and entertainment figures.
• Jeff and Eric Rosenthal, Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch | 2J3BD: The hip-hop show brings together the Rosenthal brothers and the three members of The LOX.
• Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin | From the Culture: Hosted by bestselling authors Dr. Marcus Collins and Amanda Slavin, From The Culture brings together executives, creators, and thought leaders to examine how culture shapes the way we work, lead, build, and participate in the world.
• Justin Tranter and Morgan Stuart | Unfamous With Justin Tranter: Hosted by Grammy-nominated hit songwriter Justin Tranter and co-created with Morgan T. Stuart, Unfamous gathers artists, writers, producers, and collaborators to reveal how ambitious creative work actually happens.

Original programming includes:

• Hanif Abdurraqib | Living for the City: The MacArthur Fellow hosts a docuseries and video podcast exploring the cities behind America’s most influential music, beginning with Detroit. Co-produced with Live Nation, the series reached more than three million listeners and viewers in its first season and recently won two 2026 Signal Awards: Gold for Best Music Podcast and Silver for Best Video Podcast.
• Lyndsey Havens | SUPERFANS: The Billboard executive editor hosts the video podcast, co-produced with Live Nation, bringing fans from different walks of life together for an unforgettable concert experience, with personal stories and surprise artist encounters along the way. The first season features fans of Kid Cudi, Peso Pluma, Stray Kids, Big Boi, KATSEYE and A$AP Rocky.
• Sam Jay, Jordan Chiles and Ari Chambers | Everyone Watches Women’s Sports™, developed by Magnet Originals and produced by TOGETHXR and iHeart Women’s Sports. Within its sports business, Magnet Originals has a 50/50 commitment to women’s sports.

Connecting Brands With Creator Businesses

Magnet Originals gives brands a single way to reach fragmented audiences across creators’ podcasts, videos, stores, newsletters, communities and live experiences. At launch, the company has more than 15 advertisers, including Quince, Chime, HelloFresh, Mint Mobile and Tidal.

Practical Education for Creators

Magnet Originals also makes its operating experience available through Top Creator™ Academy, which combines a free newsletter, paid on-demand courses and live sessions that teach proven methods for growing audiences and running a successful creator business. Participation in Top Creator™ Academy is also a pathway to joining Magnet’s selective, invite-only Top Creator™ Network. The first invite-only cohort, focused on growing and monetizing YouTube channels, is already underway.

Leadership and Industry Expertise

Alongside Cunningham, the founding team includes:

• Alexandra Zaslow, Executive Producer at Magnet Originals, formerly of NBCUniversal, Yahoo News, Herzog & Company and At Will Media.
• Brannan Goetschius, Head of Audience Strategy & Growth, whose experience spans SiriusXM, Spotify, The Orchard, NBCUniversal and 101 Studios.
• Dustin Goot, Vice President of the Top Creator™ Network, who previously led creator monetization and brand partnership programs at TikTok;
• Subrata De, Senior Executive leading Content Strategy and Operations, formerly of VICE News, ABC News, MSNBC and NBC News.

The advisory board includes:

• David Linde: CEO, Sundance Institute; co-founder, Focus Features.
• Kati Fernandez: Chief Content Officer, TOGETHXR; former Head of Development, ESPN.
• Baratunde Thurston: Host, PBS’s America Outdoors; founder, Life with Machines.
• Megan Holston-Alexander: Partner, Andreessen Horowitz Cultural Leadership Fund.
• Sofia Hernandez: Fmr Global Head of Business Marketing and Commercial Partnerships, TikTok.
• Bill Vreeland: Senior Vice President, MediaLink.
• Neal Carruth: General Manager, Silver Tribe Media; former NPR podcast executive.
• Jesse Knight: CTO, Supertab; former CTO, VICE Media and G/O Media.
• Nick Catucci: Co-founder, Embedded; U.S. Site Director, GQ.
• Alex Kauffmann: Senior AI Consultant, M3GAN; former Google R&D leader.
• Douglas Smith: Media transformation strategist; co-author, The Wisdom of Teams.
• Evan Schechtman: Founder and Chief Creative Technologist, The Cuttlefish; former CTO, RadicalMedia.
• Dan Misener and Jonas Woost: Co-founders, Bumper.